BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kerrie Summerfield is a current State of Texas employee who has worked for the state for over 28 years. Kerrie's career has spanned various agencies including Texas Parks & Wildlife, SORM, and Texas Department of Insurance, as well as positions involving Accounting, Finance and Operational Management.

Currently, Kerrie works for the Office of Attorney General of Texas for the Budget Division. Her agency serves children of Texas through child support enforcement, and she is very proud of the work her agency accomplishes for Texas. 

She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and has been a member of TPEA for many years because "as someone who works with finances, I appreciate the Return-on-Investment (ROI)."

Tim Fitzpatrick was elected to the TPEA Board in the Summer of 2019.

Tim currently serves as the Director of Classification and Records in Huntsville, Texas. Tim commenced his career in State service with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) at the Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway, Texas in 2005. He then passionately served on multiple facilities with differing missions to include the Goree Unit, the Byrd Unit, the Polunsky Unit, the Michael Unit, the Pam Lychner State Jail, the W. J. Estelle Unit and was the Senior Warden of the Rudd Unit before receiving his most recent promotion.

Tim moved to Texas in 1998 and grew up in the North Houston area. He was accepted into the Criminal Justice Program at Sam Houston State University and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in 2011.

In 2013, the College of Criminal Justice and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University awarded Tim a scholarship to attend the Master of Criminal Justice Leadership and Management Program. Tim graduated with his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management in 2015. As the Director of Classification for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Tim is responsible for the oversight, management and leadership of all classification, admissions, intake and release operations statewide.

DeLisa Hamilton works in the Compliance Division at Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) as a Section Manager for the Building Safety Section. Her career at TDLR began in 2007. She oversees and manages four programs which include Boilers, Elimination of Architectural Barriers, Elevators, and Industrialized Housing and Buildings. The primary focus is on regulating, monitoring, and enforcing safety protocols to protect the well-being and safety of all Texans.

"We don't just enforce rules; we work collaboratively with businesses and stakeholders to ensure that regulations are clear, fair, and ultimately beneficial to public safety."

DeLisa is passionate about ensuring that state employees and retirees are properly compensated for the work they do, and is proud to serve as a TPEA Board Member. 

With close to 20 years of experience with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), L.E. Townsend has held every ranking security position including his current role as a Regional Director.

He has been a part of ten facilities within the agency, gaining large amounts of knowledge and meeting great people. He enjoys leading and mentoring fellow staff, and believes that our employees are the most valuable part of obtaining the mission of each state agency.

Outside of work, LE likes to spend time with his wife and daughter by enjoying each others company, and completing any activity that brings them not only closer together, but also brings a smile to all their faces.

After more than 23 years of services with Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS), Joe Golson became a state of Texas retiree. During his time there, he served in several positions including Assistant Director of Member Benefits, Director of Benefit Contracts, and Director of Cost and Risk Management. His experience at ERS ranges from front-line supervisor to senior director, with responsibilities like program management, benefits administration, contract administration, life & health insurance administration, retirement administration, legislative research, strategic planning, and policy development.

Golson also worked with the Texas Health & Human Services Commission and was responsible for obtaining federal funds for major information technology projects. He currently holds or has held the following licenses, certifications and designations: Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Certified Government Benefits Administrator (CGBA), Certified Retirement Administrator (CRA), Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC), Group I Life & Health Insurance License, Real Estate License (REALTOR), and Series 6 & 63 Securities License.

Golson believes that the wealth of experience and skills that he's acquired throughout his career have prepared him for the important role of advocating on behalf of the dedicated employees and retirees of the state of Texas. "TPEA provides a critical function as the advocate for our state’s most vital resource: its employees and retirees!"

Richard Siemens began working for the state of Texas in 1993 as an investigator for CPS in Corpus Christi, Dallas, and Henderson County.

Between CPS engagements, Siemens was a CCL investigator, and then a supervisor in the Dallas area. Siemens retired in 2006.